Finishing a Difficult Novel
Finishing a Difficult Novel
I wrote this blog for Blood Red Pencil Blogspot on August 15, 2014, about six weeks before I released Backlash, the third book in the Diana Racine Psychic Suspense series. I've had some time to think over some of the thoughts I had back then. I noted the changes at the end of the post.
Getting to the end of the first draft of your book is a major accomplishment for any writer. Getting to the end of the first draft of Backlash, the third book in my Diana Racine Psychic Suspense series, was flat-out torture. I’d never struggled to finish a book before. As a typical pantser—one who writes by the seat of her pants—I write a chapter at a time, with only a glimpse in my brain to where I’m going with the story, possibly two or three chapters ahead at most. So why was this book giving me so much trouble?
Expectations. Both mine and my readers.
Over the past year, people wrote to ask me when the next Diana Racine novel was coming out. OMG, people were waiting for it. Those readers had obviously liked the first two well enough to look forward to the third. I published the last one, Goddess of the Moon, in October of 2012. That was almost two years ago. I published one other standalone in between.
Though the first book, Mind Games, wasn’t published until March of 2012, I wrote it way back in 2003 or 2004. My agent spent a couple of years trying to sell it to a publisher, with no success. Then I got distracted writing a few erotic romances under a pen name, published by two very good e-publishers. With no large or small press interested in Mind Games, I decided to self-publish it and the other suspense books I’d already written. At the time, I had no intention of writing a series until I had an idea for a second book, and Goddess of the Moon was born.
Both books received pretty good reviews. How could I possibly live up to them with a third book? I didn’t want to rely on the same formula―I hate that word when it applies to books―that I used in the first two books, namely, Diana in trouble to be rescued by New Orleans police lieutenant, Ernie Lucier, the love of her life. Was there enough excitement? Suspense? Humor?
One of the main criticisms in longtime series is keeping the characters from becoming stale and repetitious, thereby relying on contrived storylines to make up for the lack of characterization. Since Mind Games was written as a stand-alone, I had to dig deep to advance my main characters in Goddess of the Moon. What was left to know about them? How could I keep them fresh in the third book without losing the traits I had worked so hard to cultivate? Does the relationship between the two protagonists evolve naturally?
You see where I’m going? I began to second-guess myself, fearing Backlash wasn’t up to the two that preceded it. I agonized, edited, rewrote, and in the process lost my objectivity.
I always knew the ending, but getting there took every bit of perseverance I could muster. I’m reading it aloud now, patching inconsistencies, and will send it to a beta reader for her opinion and to my editor for her superb editing skills. My brilliant critique partner has already given it her stamp of approval, surprised by a twist at the end. I’ve announced a September publication date because I think on the whole it’s as good as I can make it.
But what a trip.
Writing a series, though popular with readers, adds extra pressure for me as a writer. Maybe I put that pressure on myself, but I’ve read so many second and third books of a series that can’t hold a candle to the first one. Don’t ask how I feel about the tenth or fifteenth book in a series. I admire those authors who can pull off a long series without disappointing his or her readers.
Will I write a fourth? My original answer to this when I wrote the blog was no, but I've changed my mind. Backlash has so far garnered good reviews. Some claimed it to be the best book of the three. Again, I can't agree or disagree because I don't know. But readers weren't disappointed, and that's the best part so far. I do know that there will be a new permanent character in the fourth book. And that's all I know right now. First to finish Indiscretion, then on to Diana Four.
I wrote this blog for Blood Red Pencil Blogspot on August 15, 2014, about six weeks before I released Backlash, the third book in the Diana Racine Psychic Suspense series. I've had some time to think over some of the thoughts I had back then. I noted the changes at the end of the post.
Getting to the end of the first draft of your book is a major accomplishment for any writer. Getting to the end of the first draft of Backlash, the third book in my Diana Racine Psychic Suspense series, was flat-out torture. I’d never struggled to finish a book before. As a typical pantser—one who writes by the seat of her pants—I write a chapter at a time, with only a glimpse in my brain to where I’m going with the story, possibly two or three chapters ahead at most. So why was this book giving me so much trouble?
Expectations. Both mine and my readers.
Over the past year, people wrote to ask me when the next Diana Racine novel was coming out. OMG, people were waiting for it. Those readers had obviously liked the first two well enough to look forward to the third. I published the last one, Goddess of the Moon, in October of 2012. That was almost two years ago. I published one other standalone in between.
Though the first book, Mind Games, wasn’t published until March of 2012, I wrote it way back in 2003 or 2004. My agent spent a couple of years trying to sell it to a publisher, with no success. Then I got distracted writing a few erotic romances under a pen name, published by two very good e-publishers. With no large or small press interested in Mind Games, I decided to self-publish it and the other suspense books I’d already written. At the time, I had no intention of writing a series until I had an idea for a second book, and Goddess of the Moon was born.
Both books received pretty good reviews. How could I possibly live up to them with a third book? I didn’t want to rely on the same formula―I hate that word when it applies to books―that I used in the first two books, namely, Diana in trouble to be rescued by New Orleans police lieutenant, Ernie Lucier, the love of her life. Was there enough excitement? Suspense? Humor?
One of the main criticisms in longtime series is keeping the characters from becoming stale and repetitious, thereby relying on contrived storylines to make up for the lack of characterization. Since Mind Games was written as a stand-alone, I had to dig deep to advance my main characters in Goddess of the Moon. What was left to know about them? How could I keep them fresh in the third book without losing the traits I had worked so hard to cultivate? Does the relationship between the two protagonists evolve naturally?
You see where I’m going? I began to second-guess myself, fearing Backlash wasn’t up to the two that preceded it. I agonized, edited, rewrote, and in the process lost my objectivity.
I always knew the ending, but getting there took every bit of perseverance I could muster. I’m reading it aloud now, patching inconsistencies, and will send it to a beta reader for her opinion and to my editor for her superb editing skills. My brilliant critique partner has already given it her stamp of approval, surprised by a twist at the end. I’ve announced a September publication date because I think on the whole it’s as good as I can make it.
But what a trip.
Writing a series, though popular with readers, adds extra pressure for me as a writer. Maybe I put that pressure on myself, but I’ve read so many second and third books of a series that can’t hold a candle to the first one. Don’t ask how I feel about the tenth or fifteenth book in a series. I admire those authors who can pull off a long series without disappointing his or her readers.
Will I write a fourth? My original answer to this when I wrote the blog was no, but I've changed my mind. Backlash has so far garnered good reviews. Some claimed it to be the best book of the three. Again, I can't agree or disagree because I don't know. But readers weren't disappointed, and that's the best part so far. I do know that there will be a new permanent character in the fourth book. And that's all I know right now. First to finish Indiscretion, then on to Diana Four.
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Dec 06, 2014 01:39PM
Interesting, Polly. I totally get what you're saying about hoping the next book lives up to the other books in a series. I've got 2 separate series and I think about that every time I write. I also think they get harder the better we become--when you first start out, you're not aware of all that's involved in writing a good novel. Then, after the 6th or 7th or 8th, it dawns on you how freaking hard it is :-) And yes, when readers start to email you looking for the next one, the pressure's ON. But I have to say, hearing from readers is THE BEST part of being a writer, bar none, and I'm happy to try to make the next book better than the last!
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The comment of mine picked from the Sisters in Crime book, Writes of Passage, was "I didn't know the extent of what I didn't know." Oh, so true. So I agree with you totally, D.V. We always try to make the next book better than the last, and it's nice when readers let you know that you have. Then you get that one review that spoils your day, saying, Not as good as the first one or two or whatever. Still, we try and hope we do get better. Thanks for the comment.
Sometimes it is our own expectations that make it nearly impossible to write. On my "difficult" manuscript, I got stuck after the first act. It just sat on my desktop taunting me. But I got over it. I knew where I was going so once I got the middle written the third act was easy. Problem--I had a lapse of confidence, but that was a good thing. I've read too many books by over-confident writers. I didn't want a pat on the back and a nod. I wanted an engaging, solid read. I spent two years revising the book after getting guidance from beta readers--like you. After all these years, I'm finally to the point where I can let it go. Of course, I have new beta readers. I'm crossing my fingers that this time is a go!Backlash was a great read, Polly. Maybe difficult equals better. Writing is work and the better the read, perhaps, the harder for the writer.
Elaine, I'm so glad you're finally ready to put your book out there. I do believe we are our own worst enemies when it comes to judging our work, but that is a good thing. If we aren't objective, if we don't strive for perfection (an unattainable goal but one worth aiming for), we won't have a finished product worth anything. But I'm glad Backlash is finished, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm finally satisfied. Looking forward to reading Toasting Fear when it is published.
I can commiserate with the problem. Having the same issues right now. So glad you finally got it out. Cross your fingers I can get mine finished this month.
Polly, the pressure we put ourselves under. I'm excited to read Backlash. You're such a smart, excellent writer, the only one who had any doubt was you!
Kate, having these problems mean that you care enough to do your very best. The worst is losing your objectivity, and that's when critique partners and beta readers help. A lot. I wish you well. Me? I doubt I'll ever be good enough for me.
Donnell wrote: "Polly, the pressure we put ourselves under. I'm excited to read Backlash. You're such a smart, excellent writer, the only one who had any doubt was you!"Donnell, I know what a perfectionist you are, so I know you understand. That's why you turn out great reads one after the other, and you have the fans to prove it. We are the pressure more than any other factor. In the end, it's probably a good thing. Thanks for commenting.
I agree with you about the problem of keeping series characters fresh. My take so far is to have each plot resonate with part of my character's past, making the back story that shaped her part of the plot. We'll see.Besides making the character fresh, I find relationships difficult for the series. I can't have the girl behave like a nun, but I can't see a way for my character to have a permanent relationship like your Diana does, and killing a guy off at the end of each book will make the black widow spider on the cover of The Spider Catchers really come alive.
I don't like relationships that tease forever. Will they or won't they? That's not romantic conflict, that's stupidity, and it becomes annoying. You have a problem, but I don't see anything wrong with a woman like Lee Caruthers with a past to have a few loves or lovers. Men in books do it all the time. We don't want a double standard. Diana and Lucier are a couple. Very little teasing in the first book and none after.
